Difficulties in determining
his profession—He is sent to the University of St. Andrew’s — Letter to
his father, giving an account of his gaining the first bursary— Letter to
his mother— His success at the end of the first session — Mr. Duff’s
observations on his conduct at this time — Return to St. Andrew’s —
Letter, giving an account of his early impressions, and change of mind —
Remarks on this subject — His views of Christian fellowship — Success at
the end of his second session.

The period had now come
when it was necessary to determine the future career of this interesting
boy. Various objects presented themselves to the minds of his anxious
parents. They thought of the professions of the law, and of medicine, and
perhaps of another profession also, though they feared to avow it,
especially to himself. It is not improbable that his own mind was directed
to the ministry; but as he had given no decided indications of piety,
neither his father nor myself encouraged him to think of it.

Convinced of the deep
injury done to religion, by the education of men for the ministry, who
afford no evidence that they themselves know the truth as it is in Jesus,
I consider the encouragement of such persons, the greatest wrong which can
be done to their own souls, and to the Church of Christ. In some
instances, it is true, the salvation of the gospel is afterwards received
by them; in numerous instances it is altogether and finally rejected,
although the most solemn obligations are submitted to, to preach it; and
in many cases there is reason to fear, cold orthodoxy is all that is ever
attained. Under the influence of these causes, Christianity has sustained
more injury than from all other things. The ruin of any church may be
dated from the time that it commences the training of men avowedly for the
ministry, from their infancy.

This is a different matter
from a Christian parent, devoting, in his own mind, to the work of God, a
promising youth, provided he shall become a partaker of divine grace. In
that case, it will be his duty to give him such an education as his
circumstances admit, and which may eventually further the object of his
wishes. Such were the views with which I tendered my advice to the elder
Mr. Urquhart, respecting the education and prospects of his son. I was
powerfully convinced, that, should it please God to call him to the
knowledge of himself, he had all the elements of an accomplished and
attractive preacher. He had a fine voice, a pleasing address and
appearance, besides being remarkably fond of knowledge, and diligent in
its pursuit. To himself I said nothing; but I pointed out these things to
his father, and convinced him of the importance of giving his son such an
education, as might suit any of the professions in which the knowledge of
literature is required. To everything except study, he always manifested
great reluctance or aversion; so that the path of duty to send him to St.
Andrew’s became at length clear.

The high satisfaction which
this afforded to John was very evident. The buoyancy and vivacity of
youth, no doubt, appeared, in the prospect of going to a new scene,
especially as that scene was a University. But he was to be placed among
those to whom he was almost an entire stranger, to be separated from his
own family, which he had never before left, except for a few days
together, and to be made, in a great measure, his own master. These
considerations could not fail to make on his delicate mind, some painful
impression.

His parents, too, could not
but feel the risk to which they were exposed, though he had hitherto
conducted himself with much propriety and success. He possessed a large
portion of good sense for his years. He was exceedingly steady and
persevering in all his habits; and was ardently set on rising to eminence
in some honourable department of life. But he was yet a boy; having only
completed his fourteenth year. To many temptations he was now to be
exposed, from which he had before been exempted, or the influence of which
had been in a degress counteracted. Dangers of a very formidable kind
frequently assail an inexperienced youth, not only from the associates of
his academical pursuits, but from some of those pursuits themselves. But
the election had been made; it was therefore necessary to commit him to
the care and blessing of God.

I feel pleasure in
remembering, that, with his father, I accompanied him to St. Andrew’s, and
thus far assisted in introducing him to that scene of usefulness, and
perhaps, in the best sense, I might say, of glory, in which he was
destined to act a conspicuous and an important part. Lodgings of the
humble kind, which are generally occupied by the young men who attended
that University, whose circumstances and prospects are not of a superior
description, were provided for him. The respective professors on whose
lectures he was to attend, were spoken to, and he was commended especially
to the watchful care of my respected friend, the Rev. William Lothian,
minister of the Independent congregation, whose ministerial labours he was
to enjoy, on the Lord’s day. Of that gentleman’s kind and affectionate
attentions, John ever spoke with great warmth; and to him he was indebted
for much useful instruction, in private as well as in public.

Here I cannot allow the
opportunity to pass without bearing my public and decided testimony to the
liberal principles on which the Universities of my native country are
conducted. At these important establishments, no distinction of party is
acknowledged. They are open to men of all professions. No subscription is
required at entrance or in any stage of future progress. Their highest
honours are attainable by the Dissenter as well as by the Churchman; and,
in the distribution of their rewards, I am not aware that any difference
is made in consequence of the candidate not being of the established
faith. At St. Andrew’s all the students are required to attend public
worship on the Lord’s day, at the College church; but a young man has only
to signify that he is a Dissenter, and that he means to attend regularly
at the dissenting chapel or meeting-house, and his attendance with his
fellow-students is at once dispensed with. It is due to both parties that
I should state, that John Urquhart entered the College of St. Andrew’s as
the son of dissenting parents; [Of the Congregational body.] while there,
he regularly attended a dissenting meeting, and became a regular member of
a Dissenting Church; he left it with a mind unaffected on the subject of
dissent; and throughout his course of study, he received from all the
professors, the most marked and affectionate treatment. Of their kind and
honourable conduct, he always spoke with the warmest respect and
gratitude.

Of this impartiality he had
soon a very substantial proof. Contrary to the wishes of his father, he
was determined to offer himself as a candidate for one of the exhibitions
or bursaries, as they are termed, in Scotland; most of which have been
left for the encouragement of young men at the commencement of their
college career, with a view to help them to defray the expenses of it.
Though the sum is usually small, it has often proved highly beneficial;
not merely in aiding those whose resources are rather limited, but in
exciting and stimulating the successful candidate to further exertion. The
effect produced in this way on the mind of my young friend, I have no
doubt, was both considerable and beneficial. But, as happily his own
account of his trial and his success remains, I shall allow him to tell
the story of his first adventure himself. In a letter to his father, dated
St. Andrew’s, 7th of November, 1822, he writes as follows: —

"MY DEAR FATHER—The
bursaries are at last decided. Tuesday was the day appointed for the
competition; we met accordingly, at ten o’clock in the morning, and got a
passage to translate from Latin into English, which we gave in at two
o’clock. We were then allowed an hour for dinner, and assembled again at
three, when we had another version to turn from English into Latin, which
we finished about six o’clock. We were then, without getting out, locked
up in a room to wait till we were called in our turn to be examined upon
an extempore sentence. I was not called upon till near eleven, when I was
dismissed for that night. The professors met yesterday to determine the
bursaries, from the exercises that had been performed the day before.
There was no less than thirty-three competitors, and as I knew many
of them to be very good scholars, from their answers in the public
classes, I had given up all hopes of getting one. You may then judge of my
very agreeable disappointment, on going last night to know the
determination, to hear that I had gained the first bursary. I could
not believe it till we, who had got bursaries were called in, and informed
of it by the Principal.

"I began my letter with the
decision of the bursaries, and have dwelt on them so long, because I
thought it would be the most agreeable intelligence I could communicate.
The whole four bursaries are equal in regard to value, being each eight
pounds a session, for four years, if the person continues at the
College for that time. It has certainly greatly relieved my mind, as my
expenses here will now be comparatively easy. I was very dull, of course,
for the first two or three days I was here, but since Alexander Duff came,
I have been happy enough with my situation.. I feel every comfort that I
could have at home, excepting the presence of my friends. Mr. Lothian has
been unremitting in his kindness to me ever since I came."

This letter shows
satisfactorily the attainments he must have made, when at the early age of
fourteen, he could gain the first bursary among thirty-three competitors,
the great body of whom must have been much further advanced in life than
himself. It affords evidence, also, of that Spirit of exertion and
independence which distinguished him to the last. It was his desire to be
as little burdensome to his parents as possible; and everything which
enabled him to diminish that burden, he grasped at with avidity. His wants
were very easily supplied; and could I, with propriety, communicate the
details and evidence of his economy, which are now before me, I am sure
would excite no ordinary degree of surprise. Possessed, even at this early
period, of a generous and self-denying spirit, he nobly sacrificed
everything which it was possible for him to give up, so that the expense
of his education might affect as little as possible the other branches of
the family.

The time of a young man
attending the classes of a University must be so fully occupied, that it
would be foolish to expect that much of it should be spent in letter
writing. Besides, many letters may be written which contain nothing that
would be proper to meet the public eye.

The following extract from
a letter to his mother, discovers his affection for her, gives some
account of his employments, and shows how busily and constantly he was
engaged.

"ST ANDREW’s, December 12,
1822.

"MY DEAR MOTHER — I confess
that I ought to have written to you before now; I shall make no excuse for
not doing so; but shall only say, that it by no means proceeded from
forgetfulness or neglect of you. If there is any one of you that I
remember more than another, you are that one; and, indeed, I must be kept
in constant remembrance of you, by the comforts you are sending me every
opportunity. The flannels, &c., which you sent last, were very acceptable;
the mittens you sent me were also very seasonable; but I hope you were
not, in any way depriving yourself of them for my sake; for, if I thought
so, I could have no pleasure in wearing them.

"I was happy to hear by my
father’s last letter, that you were keeping free of your complaint. I hope
you are still so; and David [His eldest brother.] also. I always feel a
kind of uneasiness in being absent from you all; but to hear that you are
all well removes the greater part of it. For my part, I am keeping my
health better here than ever I did before. I have not had the slightest
head-ache. This, I am convinced, proceeds in a great measure from
regularity. Every hour is employed much in the same manner every day. My
meals are also strictly measured in the same quantity. I rise every day at
seven o’clock, (with candlelight of course,) go to the Greek class at
eight, and remain there till nine; take my breakfast and go to the library
between nine and ten; go to the mathematics from ten to eleven; the Greek
again from eleven to twelve; take a walk between twelve and one; go to
Latin from one to two; dine between two and three; study till four; take a
walk between four and five; and am in the house the rest of the night: you
have thus a history of the time I have spent since I came here.

"This has been a very dry
letter, but you may expect a better next.

"And believe me to be,
"Your very affectionate and obedient son."

By the same conveyance, he
wrote his eldest brother a playful letter, enclosing a plan of St.
Andrew’s, sketched with his pen, with very considerable accuracy and
neatness.

He paid a visit of a few
days to Perth, during the Christmas vacation of College, and returned to
prosecute his studies with increasing ardour and diligence. When the end
of the session arrived, he bore off the silver medal, which is the highest
prize of the junior Greek class, which he attended. He also received "Xenophon
de Cyri Expeditione," as a prize in the junior Latin class. In the senior
mathematical class, taught by Professor Duncan, he obtained "Simpson’s
Conic Sections," as one of the prizes; but which in order, I have not
ascertained. This success could not fail to be flattering to a young and
ardent mind; yet I do not recollect that he seemed much elated by it on
his return. He seldom spoke of himself; and though to me he was accustomed
to speak freely, he rarely adverted to his exertions, and scarcely at all
to the honours which he had obtained.

I have reason to believe, indeed,
that the good work was slowly and imperceptibly going on in his soul. I
know that he was then in the habit of reading the Scriptures regularly
every day, and that he and his companion frequently joined together in
prayer. His uniform correctness of conduct and regularity in attending the
means of grace on Sabbath, encouraged the hope that a decided profession
of religion would be made at no distant period.

In such a case as his, no very marked or
visible transition could take place. His mind, familiar from infancy with
divine truth, had not to acquire a theoretical knowledge of it. Not the
intellectual perception of the gospel, but the moral taste for its beauty
and adaptation, was the thing required. The former is a.mere human
attainment, the latter is the doing of the Lord. Man may cultivate and
enlarge the understanding; but God only can touch and renovate the heart.
Our expectations in regard to this were not disappointed.

The following extract of a
letter from his companion Mr. Duff confirms these observations, and shows
what a change must afterwards have taken place.

"During the session of
College at St. Andrew’s, in 1822-3, he and I lodged together in the same
room. He was still the same John Urquhart, though more ripened in
intellect, and, if possible, more amiable in deportment. He attended the
junior Greek and Latin classes, and the second mathematical class. He
gained the first prize in the Greek, a prize in each of the competitions
in the Latin, and a prize in the Mathematics; all this he accomplished
with little labour or exertion. He spent much time in reading books from
the public library: of what description these generally were, I do not now
remember; but one he read and re-read with peculiar satisfaction, ‘The
Memoirs and Writings of Henry Kirke White.’ He took great delight in
walking along the sea-shore, and exploring the rocks which so abound in
the neighbourhood of the town. Throughout the whole session we regularly
engaged in the worship of God morning and evening; but I fear there was
much coldness, and much formality in almost every exercise. With neither
of us I fear, was religion then made the great object. There was
little appearance of the savour and unction of divine, little appearance
of real joy and delight in communion with God, little in short, to
manifest the earnest longing, the devout aspiration, the holy zeal of him
whose piety is deeply rooted in the heart, and tinctures more or less with
its own sacredness, every thought and feeling, every word and action. The
Bible was read, but I fear that the spiritual meaning of the Bible was not
understood, and the subduing power of its doctrines not felt. Prayers were
regularly offered; but I fear that the real spirit of prayer was
wanting — the fervent outpouring of the heart to God. The wonders of
redeeming love formed but a small share of our discourse: our own
individual interest in the great salvation, formed not a prominent subject
of eager inquiry and anxious examination. In this manner passed the
session of 1822-3, without any remarkable incident."

He passed the following
summer at home with his friends, without any circumstance occurring worthy
of notice; and in the beginning of November, 1823, returned to St.
Andrew’s to attend his second College course. Scarcely any of his
correspondence during this session remains. He appears to have been very
busily engaged in his various studies; and yet it was towards the close of
this period, that he was led to make that decided profession of religion,
which he was enabled to maintain to the last. I cannot express the
gratification I felt on receiving the following letter from him; and
which, notwithstanding its peculiar references to myself, I hope I shall
be forgiven for presenting entire. I had not previously heard of his
taking the step to which it refers.

"ST. ANDREW’S,April
13, 1824.

"MY DEAR SIR — It is with
feelings of a very peculiar nature, that I sit down at present to write to
you. Since I saw you last I have been admitted a member of a Christian
Church. I determined to write to you at present for several reasons. I
have long considered you as one of my best friends, and as a sincere
servant and follower of Jesus Christ; and your preaching was the first
instrument in the hand of God, of leading me to think seriously of an
eternal world. To you, therefore, I have determined to reveal every
feeling, and to open the recesses of my heart.

"My first impressions of
danger, as a sinner, were caused by a sermon you preached on a Lord’s day
evening, about a year and a half ago. At the time, I was very much
affected; it was then I think, that I first really prayed. I retired to my
apartment, and with many tears confessed my guilt before God. These
impressions were followed by some remarkable events in the providence of
God, which struck me very forcibly. About that time, I had a proof of the
inability of earthly wisdom and learning to confer true happiness, by the
melancholy death of Mr. Moncur. On leaving my father’s house to come here,
shortly after, I felt myself in a peculiar manner dependent on Jehovah. I
was removed from the care of my earthly father, and from the intercourse
of my earthly friends; and I felt great pleasure in committing myself to
him who is the father of the fatherless, and a friend to those that have
none. My companion used to join me morning and evening in the reading of
the Scriptures, and prayer. In these, and in attending on the more public
exercises of God’s worship, I had some enjoyment, and from them, I think,
I derived some advantage. On my return home, however, last summer, I began
to feel less pleasure in these employments; they began to be a weariness
to me, and were at last almost totally neglected. My soul reverted to its
original bent, and the follies of this world wholly engrossed my
attention. Had I been left in that state, I must have inevitably perished.
But God is rich in mercy; he delighteth not in the death of the wicked. In
his infinite mercy, he has again been pleased to call my attention to the
things of eternity. For some months back, I have been led to see the utter
worthlessness of earthly things; to see that happiness is not to be found
in any earthly object; that

"‘Learning, pleasure, wealth, and
fame,
All cry out, It is not here,’

And I think I have been led
to seek it where alone it is to be found, in ‘Jesus crucified for me.’ I
have felt great pleasure in communion with God; and I have felt some love,
though faint, to the Saviour, and to his cause. I have had a long struggle
with the world; I have counted the cost, and I have at last resolved that
I will serve the Lord. I have long been kept back from openly professing
my faith in Jesus from an apprehension lest my future conduct might bring
disgrace on the religion of the Saviour. But I have begun to think that
this proceeds, in a great measure, from self-confidence, and from not
trusting implicitly to the promises of God. He that hath brought me thus
far, will not now forsake me; he that hath begun a good work will perfect
it until the end.

"On Thursday s’ennight,
after imploring the Divine direction, I felt it my duty to apply for
admission to a Christian Church; since then, I have conversed with two of
the members; and, being proposed last Lord’s day, I was received into
their number. I have thus, my dear sir, as far as I can, related to you
without reserve, my various feelings, and my state of mind since I first
was impressed with a sense of the importance of religion. I have yet many
doubts whether I have been really renewed by the grace of God. Of this my
future life must be the test. I see many temptations in my way, and I feel
that I am not able in myself to withstand them. May God perfect his
strength in my weakness, and may he enable me to live henceforth, not to
myself, but to him who died for me, and who rose again; to offer my body a
living sacrifice, and to devote all the faculties of my mind to his
service. And now, my dear sir, pray for me, that he who is able to
stablish me according to the preaching of Christ Jesus, may keep me from
falling, and make me in the end more than a conqueror. At present,
farewell; I hope to see you soon. Give compliments to Mrs. Orme, to my
parents, and all friends."

"P. S. You may, perhaps,
think I have been rash in joining myself to the church here, when I have a
prospect of returning to you in so short a time. I can only say that I
felt it my duty to apply immediately, that I have before experienced the
danger of procrastination, and that I consider it much the same whether I
be in the first instance to be connected with the church here, or with
that in Perth, and that our friends here were all of the same opinion. In
connecting myself with that body of Christians, to which you and my
parents belong, I think I have not been influenced by the prejudices of
education, but a sense of duty, and the writings of the apostles
themselves."

This letter bears all the
marks of the most ingenuous and candid disclosures of the leadings of
Providence, and the workings of his own mind. It shows the gradual and
pleasing manner in which he had been led to receive and obey the truth;
and that although he had been much engaged in literary and scientific
pursuits, and ardently attached to them, the powerful operations of the
divine Spirit had carried forward the process of illumination and
conviction, till it at last issued in his decided conversion to God. His
reasons for taking the step which he had adopted, were those by which he
appears to have been invariably influenced in his religious course. He
first sought to ascertain what was the will of God; and on arriving at a
satisfactory conclusion on this point, he was then prepared to encounter
all difficulties which stood in the way of full compliance with it. He
delayed not, but hastened to keep the commandment.

How much it is to be
regretted that prudential considerations, or sinful timidity, induce many
individuals long after they have received the truth, to keep at a distance
from the fellowship and ordinances of the Church of Christ. Instead of
looking at the command of God, and considering the shortness and
uncertainty of human life, they allow year after year to pass away in
inquiring and doubting; or resolving and calculating, instead of deciding
and acting. The consequences are a deprivation of personal comfort, to a
great extent; the formation of habits most unfavourable to the decision of
religious character, and injuries of various kinds being done to the souls
of others.

It is as clear as possible,
that at the beginning, no sooner did men believe the gospel, than they
associated together for the observance of all the institutions appointed
by Christ in his Church. There was then no neutral ground on which they
could stand, between the world and the Church of God. No man is recognized
in New Testament as a Christian, who is not a member of a Christian
society. Yet not a few can reconcile themselves to remain in the perfectly
anomalous situation of doing all that Christianity seems to require, but
making that profession of it which lies at the foundation of everything
else.

I am aware that human
barriers have sometimes been presented, by which some have been improperly
kept at a distance from the fellowship of the gospel, who ought to have
been welcomed into it. But I fear, in the majority of instances, the evil
is to be traced to erroneous ideas of the gospel, inadequate impressions
of divine authority, and to a want of that firm and decided principle,
which, wherever it exists, will conquer trivial and even considerable
difficulties. Providence is frequently pleaded as an excuse, while its
arrangements are only putting our sincerity and principles to the test. As
he who observeth the clouds will not sow, so he that will not go forward
in doing the will of God till all difficulties are removed out of the way,
will always find something to hinder him.

The plea set up by many,
that they are afraid they may be left to bring disgrace on religion, is
admirably adverted to by my young friend. A more superficial thinker would
have ascribed this feeling to humility and self-distrust; he, with nicer
discrimination, ascribes it to self-confidence. Provided our obedience
were in any instance the result of our own strength, we might be justified
in exercising delay on this principle. But as from first to last we are
called to depend on the strength of another, the ease is very different.
He who enables us to believe, and flee from the wrath to come, will
assuredly preserve us from dishonouring him, if our confidence is properly
reposed. Many refuse to believe in Christ, on the plea that their sins are
too great for them to hope that they may be forgiven. This they call
humility; while in fact it is the deceitful operation of pride. It is
obvious that if they thought they were better, they would not feel the
same difficulty; because they could then come to Christ with greater
confidence of acceptance. Many think they are not good enough to observe
the Lord’s Supper; as if the observance of it ought to be suspended on
their goodness or merit. It is intended exclusively for Christians; but
under that denomination, it includes all of every grade in the profession,
who really know and love the Lord. It is designed, not for the perfect,
but as the means of promoting perfection in those who are aiming to attain
it. It is intended, not for the full, but for the empty soul; and will
always prove useful in invigorating the life of godliness.

The following extract of a
letter written long after, to the Rev. W. Lothian, pastor of the church
which he joined, both illustrates his grateful feelings, and his strong
attachment to the church under his care.

"I am chargeable with many
faults, and carelessness is not among the least of them. I will not offer
any apology, or pretend to make an excuse for not writing sooner, for my
own conscience condemns me. But be assured it has not proceeded from a
want of Christian love, or a forgetfulness of the many spiritual blessings
I have enjoyed under your ministry, and in communion with the church under
your care, or the many acts of kindness shown me by many of its members.
No! I will never forget St. Andrew’s; and the place where first I
professed myself a follower of the Lord, and the little body of Christians
who first gave me the right hand of fellowship, will be remembered with
lively gratitude and delight, when the associations of literary and social
intercourse shall have been effaced, by the impression of other scenes,
and different pursuits. How different is our friendshipfrom that
of the world! Distance of time and place cannot weaken it, since neither
can remove us from Christ. So long as we love him who begat, so long shall
we love those who are begotten of him; and coldness of love to our
Christian brethren can only be produced by lukewarmness in our love to
God. Forgive my wandering; I sometimes forget that I am writing a letter."

"The account which he
gave," says Mr. Lothian, "of his religious views and experience, on being
received into church, was very satisfactory, and discovered great
knowledge of the Scriptures in one so young. He particularly mentioned the
advantage he had derived from parental instruction, and from hearing the
gospel faithfully preached. I thought it my duty to remind him, that by
casting in his lot with us, he would be deprived of that patronage which
might otherwise have held out to him prospects of temporal advancement.
He, however, said, that he had examined the subject for himself, and could
not conscientiously unite himself to any other body of Christians."

The propriety of Mr.
Lothian’s caution will appear when we reflect on the tender years of young
Urquhart, on his highly promising talents, on the temptations incident to
a college life, and on the little inducement which he could have, under
such circumstances, to connect himself with a small, and in the city of
St. Andrew’s, a despised independent Church. Difficult as the
circumstances were, he maintained his consistency and integrity of
character to the last. And such was the power of principle, and his
attachment to the body to which he belonged, that when on his leaving St.
Andrew’s, a very desirable situation was put in his power, he would not
accept of it, till the parties were informed that he was a Dissenter, and
that the full liberty to act according to his own principles was the
sine qua non of his acceptance. I mention these things chiefly as
evidences of his sincerity, decision, and steadiness.

Important as these matters
were, it must not be supposed that he was so absorbed by them as to
neglect his professional studies. The best evidence of the contrary is
furnished by the fact, that at the end of the session, which took place
after he joined the church at St. Andrew’s, he obtained again some of the
best prizes. A second time he received the silver medal, as the best
scholar in the senior Greek class; and also the second prize, "Xenophon de
Cyri Institutione," in the same class. In the third mathematical class, he
also obtained one of the best prizes. His distinguished attainments as a
Greek scholar, were noticed by Professor Alexander: "He prosecuted his
studies with unremitting assiduity; evinced talents and attainments in
Greek literature of the first order; and in each session carried off, as
he well merited, the highest prize of distinguished scholarship."

On his return home, I had
the opportunity of conversing fully with him on the nature of his
religious views, the great change which had taken place in him, and the
object which he was now led to pursue. I found his mind, as I expected,
devoted to the Christian ministry; and it now became my pleasing duty to
encourage his resolution, and direct his reading with a view to that
object. Possessing, as he evidently did, the leading qualifications to
form a popular preacher, I hailed the day when it might be my privilege to
introduce him in some form to the elevated and responsible employment of
the ministry. I forget whether he then said much, or anything to me
respecting the object to which he finally directed all his attention, the
work of a Christian missionary. I entertain little doubt, however, that he
then thought of it; but as my views of his talents led me to think of the
home, rather than of the foreign service, I must have chiefly directed his
mind towards the former.

While he was at home during
this vacation, he wrote an essay on the Nature and Design of the Mission
of the Saviour on Earth, intended, I believe, for some magazine, which
promised a prize for the best essay on the subject. I remember that he
showed it me; but I am unable to say whether he sent it. His accurate
knowledge of the gospel, and the ease with which he could express himself
respecting its nature and design are here strikingly illustrated. I
believe it is the first piece of extended composition which he wrote, and
cannot therefore be so perfect as some of his subsequent pieces. But the
language requires as little apology as the sentiment. The former is as
simple as the latter is dignified. [See Appendix A.]

This paper contains a very
excellent view of all the leading truths of the gospel. They are every one
of them stated fairly, and are all blended together in admirable harmony.
No undue importance or prominence is given to any one topic, while the
practical design of the whole is constantly kept in view. It discovers a
discrimination and justness of conception, as well as an extent of
acquaintance with divine truth, very rarely to be found in a youth of
sixteen.

Even at this early period,
and while so little accustomed to composition, he was above the ambition
of fine writing. Here is no attempt at it; and yet the language is
admirable for its appropriateness and simplicity. His mind was evidently
filled with the importance of the subject; and from the abundance of his
heart his mouth spake. His only object was to express himself clearly and
forcibly; and in this he completely succeeded.

My personal intercourse
with him was shortly after this time brought nearly to a close. In
consequence of removing to London, our subsequent connection was
maintained chiefly by letters. He employed himself, of his own accord,
after my removal, for several weeks, in making out a catalogue of my
library; classifying the books, as well as numbering them and registering
their titles. It is now in my possession, and evinces, at once, his
correctness and diligence, and his love for the proprietor, as it must
have cost him considerable labour. That labour, however, I am sure he
never thought of; it gratified, in a small degree, his love of books, as
he amused himself by looking at many of them as he passed them through his
hands; and it afforded him the far higher gratification of doing an
unsolicited service to a friend whom he loved. I now deeply, but
unavailingly, regret, that my opportunities of personal usefulness to him,
were not, on my part, sufficiently cultivated. I too often neglected the
present, by anticipating the future; and thus allowed many occasions to
pass away, which might have been employed in promoting his advancement in
knowledge and piety. Still, I trust, that intercourse was not altogether
without profit. He is gone before, to the region where are no defects. May
it be my privilege to follow, and to meet him there at last!

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